Two Indiana men sentenced for killing whooping crane

Indiana conservation officers say two southwestern Indiana men will serve three years on probation and 120 hours of community service after pleading guilty to shooting an endangered whooping crane.

John Burke and Jason McCarter of Knox County also will pay $5,000 donations to the Baraboo, Wis.-based International Crane Foundation and surrender their hunting privileges for three years after being sentenced Nov. 21 in U.S. District Court in Terre Haute.

Officers said Tuesday that a tip from the public five days after the Jan. 7 shooting led to the men being charged.

The whooping crane belonged to a nesting pair. It was one of about 100 birds left in the eastern flyway.

Whooping cranes are North America's largest birds, standing over 5 feet tall.

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